Dennis Wynn, Court Administrator
Mr. Wynn started in 1988 as a Bailiff and Law clerk for the Judges of the 51st District Court. He served in the courtrooms of retired Judges Hempstead and Carr as well as current Judge Phyllis McMillen. Mr. Wynn earned an Associates Degree in Business and Accounting and has completed coursework in legal research. He was voted Court Employee of the Year in 2000 by the Optimist Club and Employee of the Month by Waterford Township in December 2001. Additionally, Mr. Wynn was honored as the Employee of the Year in 2002 by Waterford Township. Mr. Wynn is a member of the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority advisory committee on court security and was promoted to Supervisor of Security and Courtroom Staff of the 51st District Court in March of 2004. He was then promoted to Deputy Court Administrator in January 2009. He was promoted to Court Administrator on July 6, 2010.
Jen Thom, Deputy Court Administrator
Jen joined the Waterford Probation Department in August 2004 after working at the 52-3 District Court for three years. In 2005, she earned her Criminal Justice Professional Certification. Ms. Thom attended Central Michigan University where she double majored in Psychology and Sociology with a concentration in Social and Criminal Justice. In 2008, she earned a Master of Science Degree in Administration. In 2010, Ms. Thom was promoted to Deputy Court Administrator.
Janette Gurski, Chief Financial Clerk
Ms. Gurski graduated from Ferris State College in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and began working for the 51st District Court in February of 1981. She started in the Traffic Department and was then promoted to Bookkeeper and Supervisor in 1985. Ms. Gurski was voted employee of the year in 1998 by the Waterford Optimist Club. In addition to her financial and supervisory duties, Ms. Gurski is also certified as a Preliminary Breathalyzer Test Operator.
Kimberly Sparks, Chief Administrative Clerk
Ms. Sparks began working at the 51st District Court in August 1989. She worked in the cash office for eleven years and was promoted to Clerk in the Courtroom for Judge McMillen in 2001. In October 2003, Ms. Sparks was voted Employee of the Month for Waterford Township and was promoted to Criminal Supervisor in March 2004. Ms. Sparks has earned certifications in the following areas: LEIN TAC officer, Courtroom Audio/Video technology, Court Recorder, and various software programs. In May 2005, Ms. Sparks was voted Court Employee of the year by the Waterford Optimist Club. In November 2008, Ms. Sparks completed the Court Management Program from the Institute for Court Management and was promoted to Chief Administrative Clerk. Ms. Sparks graduated cum laude from Baker College in March 2011 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
Jill Penfound, Civil Department Supervisor
Ms. Penfound began working at the 51st District Court in August 2003. She worked part-time in the Civil Department for three years until she was hired full time in February 2006 where she continued to work in the Civil Department and as a back-up cashier. Ms. Penfound was voted Employee of the Month for Waterford Township in August 2007 and she was voted Court Employee of the Year in 2008 by the Waterford Optimist Club. October 2009, Ms. Penfound received her certification in Court Recording. In September 2011 she was promoted to Civil Department Supervisor.
Kelly Morgan, Traffic/Criminal Department Supervisor
Ms. Morgan began working at the 51st District Court in September of 1987 as a co-op student in the Traffic Department. Over the last 19 years, Ms. Morgan has worked in the Probation and Criminal Departments as well as the Traffic Department. Additionally, she also assists the Magistrate as a Clerk in the Courtroom. In March of 2003, Ms. Morgan was promoted to Supervisor of the Traffic Department. In November 2005, Kelly was promoted to Traffic/Criminal Supervisor and is currently working on a Court Management Program (CMP) through the National Center for State Courts.